"Why don't you go back to the party and find some stupid male to sharpen your claws on, Tacy?"
Shan moved toward the door where the majority of the party was going on with his hand still firmly on my hip forcing me to go with him.
"I think I should just go to my room. I shouldn't have come out here tonight," I said, trying to stop our entrance into the party. I didn't need to walk in there with Shan. Something told me it was a bad idea.
"Why don't you show me to your room? I'd like to escape too."
I shook my head. "Not enough room for both of us."
Shan laughed and bent his head to say something in my ear as my eyes locked with Lisa's silver gaze. He was watching me closely. He didn't look happy. Had his invite today been out of courtesy and not truly intended? Had I misunderstood?
"I need to leave. I don't think Lisa wants me here." I turned to look up at Shan and stepped out of his embrace.
"Nonsense. I'm sure he is entirely too busy to worry about what you're doing. Besides, why wouldn't he want you at his other sister's party?"
There was that sister thing again. Why had Bambam told me that Lisa had no siblings? Somi was obviously his sister.
"I, uh, well, he doesn't actually claim me as family. I'm just the unwanted relative of his mother's new husband. I'm actually just here for a couple more weeks until I can move out on my own. I'm not a wanted resident in this house." I forced a smile, hoping Shan would get the picture and let me go.
"There is nothing about you that is unwanted. Even Lisa isn't that damn blind," Shan said closing in on me again as I backed away.
"Come here, Jennie." Lisa's demanding tone came from behind me as a large hand slipped around my arm and pulled me back against him. "I didn't expect you to come tonight." The warning in his tone told me I had misunderstood his invite. He hadn't truly meant it.
"I'm sorry. I thought you said I could come," I whispered embarrassed that Shan was hearing this. And others were watching it. The one time I decide to be brave and step out of my shell and this happens.
"I hadn't expected you to show up dressed like that," he replied with a deadly calm. His eyes were still directed at Shan. What was so wrong with my clothes? My mom had sacrificed for me to have this dress and I'd never gotten to wear it. Sixty dollars was a lot of money for us when she'd bought it. I was sick of this stupid bunch of spoiled brats acting like I was dressed in something repulsive. I loved this dress. I loved these shoes. My parents had been happy and in love once. These shoes were a part of that. Damn them all to hell.
I jerked free of Lisa and headed back to the kitchen. If he didn't want me in here for his friends to laugh at then he should have said so. Instead, he'd made me feel like a fool.
"What is your fucking problem, man?" Shan asked angrily. I didn't look back. I hoped they got in a fight. I hoped Shan busted Lisa's obnoxiously perfect nose. I doubted it because although Lisa was one of them he looked rougher around the edges.
"Jennie, wait," Bambam called out and I wanted to ignore him but right now he was the closest thing I had to a friend here. I slowed down when I reached the hallway away from all the onlookers and let Bambam catch up to me.
"That wasn't what you think in there," Bambam said, coming up behind me. I wanted to laugh. He was very blinded where his brother was concerned.
"Doesn't matter. I shouldn't have come. I should have known he hadn't meant that invitation. I wish he'd just told me to stay in my room like he wanted me to. I don't understand word games," I snapped and stalked into the kitchen and straight to the pantry.
